Northwood University unveils Sybil Ludington statue in Midland
Northwood University unveiled a bronze sculpture in Midland honoring Sybil Ludington, the teenage Revolutionary War figure remembered for riding through the night to rally militia members.
The sculpture portrays Ludington’s reported 1777 ride after British troops attacked Danbury, Connecticut. Created by sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, the bronze work also celebrates the more than 500 women recognized through Northwood’s Distinguished Women Awards since the program began in 1970.
During the ceremony, Northwood University President Kent MacDonald discussed how women’s contributions have often received less attention in historical accounts. He contrasted Ludington’s limited recognition with the enduring fame of Paul Revere.
“She had a horse, and a mission, and the nerve to say yes,” MacDonald said.
MacDonald credited Northwood First Lady Dr. Mary-Ellen MacPhee with leading the effort to bring the sculpture to campus. Students, university officials, community members and Distinguished Women honorees from each of the program’s six decades attended the unveiling.
Huntington was recognized posthumously through the Distinguished Women Awards for a seven-decade career in which she produced more than 570 works. Her sculptures include Lincoln on the Prairie, which has been displayed on Northwood’s campus for nearly 60 years. Robin Salmon, vice president of art and historical collections at Brookgreen Gardens, accepted the honor on Huntington’s behalf.
Northwood junior Kennedy Williams reflected on the sculptor’s lasting influence before the statue was revealed.
“Some women change a room when they walk into it,” Williams said. “Others change the world and leave something behind in bronze so that every generation after them can look up and see courage and brilliance made real.”
Dr. Rita Case, president and CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group and a 2005 Distinguished Women honoree, also spoke at the event. She recalled telling her father at age 16 that she intended to take over the family business. Case now leads what is described as the nation’s largest woman-owned and operated automotive group.
The ceremony also included Nancy Barker, a member of the inaugural 1970 class of Distinguished Women, and Paula Ulmer, who was honored in 1971.
MacDonald said public art can encourage students to think about culture and values beyond day-to-day business operations. He noted that artwork invites people to pause, ask questions and develop intellectual curiosity.
He added that the Sybil Ludington sculpture will give the campus a lasting reminder that courage and initiative are not limited to people who are already powerful or famous.
